Page 2:Executive Overview

(This is a quick digest of the rest of the review. If you plan on reading
the whole review, you can skip this page and continue on with the Design section
that follows.)

With a slightly revamped style and sleeker look, the new Coolpix 4500 combines
the advanced features from the previous 995 model with a few updated ones that
make the new model even more appealing. Most important is the larger, 4.0-megapixel
CCD, for even higher resolution images, but there are a number of other tweaks
and enhancements that together add up to a significant upgrade. Also important
to many potential buyers (but frankly not that significant in terms of actual
durability), the 4500 returns to the all-metal-alloy case design of earlier models.
Nikon continues with the swivel-lens design that's been a hallmark the Coolpix
line from its inception. The swivel design enhances the camera's optical flexibility,
greatly easing tricky low- or high-angle shots. Control layout is essentially
the same, though some buttons have swapped places, and there's one fewer button
overall, as well as no separate mode dial. The camera provides both a real-image
optical viewfinder and an LCD monitor display for image composition, and the LCD
offers an extensive information display that reports a variety of exposure information,
including aperture and shutter speed settings. The 4500's user interface retains
much of the speed and flexibility of the earlier design, in that it lets you adjust
the most frequently used camera controls without having to resort to the LCD menu
system. I regret the loss of the small status display panel that graced the top
of the 995, but as it turns out, the main LCD screen now stands in for most of
the functions the smaller display provided in the past. I don't think the new
control arrangement is quiteas effective as that on the 995, but it's
still a very well thought out interface. In Playback mode, the LCD gives an informative
readout on captured images and also offers both an index display of thumbnails
and a playback zoom option.

Optically, the Coolpix 4500 is equipped with an 7.85-32mm, 4x zoom lens (equivalent
to a 38-152mm lens on a 35mm camera), made up of ten elements in eight groups.
The seven blade iris diaphragm design provides excellent aperture control by offering
an essentially continuous range of adjustment, a nice carryover from the 995 and
990 models. Zoom is easily controlled via the zoom rocker button on the back panel
and the settings menu offers a Fixed Aperture feature, which keeps the aperture
constant while the lens zooms, a handy feature for studio flash photography. An
additional 4x digital zoom can be turned on and off through the settings menu
and offers a "stepless" incremental zoom range from 1.1x to 4.0x. (Although
as always, I feel compelled to point out that digital zoom always compromises
image quality, trading off resolution for magnification.) The 4500 also offers
the same variety of focusing options, including Continuous and Single autofocus
modes as well as a manual control. Under the autofocus setting, you can choose
the desired focus area from a set of five available, or let the camera decide
on its own (which it does based which part of the subject is closest to the lens).

Exposure-wise, I really like the flexible options found in the range of manual
and semi-manual exposure modes on the 4500. In addition to its manual controls
though, an Automatic capture mode handles everything from the shutter speed to
the white balance, making the camera as usable for novices as it is powerful for
advanced users. New on the 4500 is Nikon's extensive Scene mode, which offers
16 preset "scenes" for special shooting conditions, including two scene
modes (multi exposure and panorama-assist) that are completely new to any camera
in the Coolpix lineup. Remaining exposure modes include Program AE (with Flexible
Program), Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual exposure modes. Program
selects the aperture and shutter speed automatically, but gives the user complete
control over white balance, exposure compensation, etc. Flexible Program does
the same but instead lets the user choose from a range of valid aperture and shutter
speed combinations. Aperture Priority and Shutter Speed Priority are also pretty
self-explanatory, letting the user select one value while the camera selects the
other. Finally, Manual gives you total control over everything. Shutter speeds
are adjustable from eight to 1/2,300 seconds (with a Bulb setting for exposures
as long as five minutes) and the maximum aperture ranges from f/2.6 to f/5.1,
depending on the zoom setting.

Nikon has been an innovator in developing special shooting modes for its high
end consumer cameras, and the Coolpix 4500 continues in this vein. The still-unique
Best Shot Select function is a great aid for getting sharp photos when you have
no choice but to hand hold the camera under dim lighting conditions. The Auto
Bracketing feature also includes a White Balance Bracketing function, while a
Noise Reduction mode reduces the noise associated with higher ISO settings in
low-light/long exposure shooting situations. I was also pleased with the return
of the extensive white balance menu from the 995 (Auto, Preset, Daylight, Cloudy,
Incandescent, Fluorescent, and Speedlight) and the variety of metering options
(the famous 256-element Matrix mode, Center-Weighted, Spot, and Spot AF). Also,
under the settings menu, I enjoyed the ability to alter the in-camera sharpening
as well as increase or decrease the contrast or turn the image into monochrome
black and white. And of course, you have the ability to connect an external flash
for use with or without the built-in flash.

Speaking of the internal flash, the Coolpix 4500's pop-up flash extends about
1.5 inches or so above the lens axis. This should dramatically reduce the problems
with redeye that have dogged the Coolpix cameras since the original model 900
swivel design. When working without a flash, the 4500's low light capability is
very impressive. Automatically-timed exposures can range as long as eight seconds,
but a "bulb" exposure mode will keep the shutter open for up to five
minutes, as long as you hold down the Shutter button. Similar to the 995 before
it, the 4500's low light performance is quite impressive. (Although its autofocus
system is limited to light levels of 1/2 foot-candle (5.5 lx) and above, meaning
that you'll be reduced to somewhat uncertain manual focusing for really low light
shooting.)

Like the 995, the Coolpix 4500 has a Type II CompactFlash slot on it, and the
latest word I have from Nikon is that they now do officially support IBM
Microdrives for use with the camera. (There was some confusion as I "went
to press" with this review as to Nikon's official position regarding Microdrives
and the 4500. The latest word I have from Nikon USA's PR firm is that Microdrive
support is now official.) For power, the camera runs from either a 2CR5 lithium
battery, or a single rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack. I'm very happy to
say that Nikon listened to the concerns of 995 purchasers, and now includes a
rechargeable EN-EL1 LiIon battery and MH-53 charger in the box with the 4500.
The camera supports USB for quick connection to a PC or Mac, and is packed with
a software CD containing Nikon View Version 5, and ArcSoft's software suite, consisting
of PhotoImpression, VideoImpression, Panorama Maker, and PhotoBase for PDAs. There's
also an NTSC video cable (European models ship with a PAL cable) for connecting
to a television set.

I've been impressed with the Coolpix line from the start. The previous Coolpix
995 was an excellent camera, and from the looks of things, the Coolpix 4500
will do just as well. The larger 4.0-megapixel CCD increases the camera's resolution
capabilities, and the addition of a 16-mode Scene exposure mode increases its
automatic flexibility. I've no doubt that many users who held off from upgrading
to the 995 out of disdain for plastic camera bodies will be newly tempted by
the 4500's return to an all-metal chassis. Just like the 995, the 4500 offers
a completely automatic mode for novices, but all the controls advanced users
could ask for. Happily, my tests of a production-model 4500 showed it to have
image quality as good or better than that of the 995. Given the success of the
9xx series of Nikon Coolpix digicams, it's a safe bet that the Coolpix 4500
will be another huge hit.